Unit and apparatus for rolling a metal product

ABSTRACT

Apparatus for rolling a metal product comprising a plurality of rolling units (11), each provided with a respective rolling roll (12). Each rolling unit (11) comprises a support assembly (17) selectively rotatable around an axis of rotation (Z), and comprising a support rod (20) provided with an attachment portion (23) of a roll (12), and an actuation assembly (35) configured to selectively move the support rod (20) along the axis of rotation (Z) to allow the removal of the roll (12).

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention concerns a unit and an apparatus for rolling a metal product such as a metal wire, a round piece, a rod, or suchlike.

The rolling unit, according to the invention, allows to quickly replace the work roll used for rolling.

Here and in the following description and claims, by rolling we mean a hot or cold rolling also comprising with this term the operation of drawing or ribbing a metal product.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Apparatuses to roll metal products comprising a plurality of rolling units, each of which is provided with a respective rolling roll, or ring, are known.

The rolls are reciprocally disposed so as to define a passage gap through which the metal product is made to pass during use.

Each rolling unit is provided with a rotation shaft provided with a connection end, to which a respective roll is connected. The connection of the roll to the shaft is usually achieved by using threaded elements, such as ring nuts, screws, nuts, studs, or suchlike.

These connection elements make the operations of removing and installing the rolls, that is, their replacement, extremely complex and time consuming. This, in fact, requires interrupting the production process to allow for these replacement operations which, during the course of a day, can occur even up to ten times.

This results in a reduced efficiency of the production plant.

To limit this disadvantage, it is also known to directly replace the rolling apparatus from the working line with another apparatus, to allow the roll replacement operations.

This solution, however, requires that for each rolling apparatus installed in the production line there is another one ready for replacement. This entails high management costs.

Furthermore, in order to limit replacement times it is known to equip each apparatus with rapid type connection means, for example electric feed, and/or pneumatic, and/or oil-dynamic connection means. However, this entails complexities in the production of the rolling apparatus as well as high production costs.

In document US RE29968E, for example, means are described for connecting a work roll on a drive shaft which can be used in rolling apparatuses, which however suffer from said disadvantages described above.

The need therefore exists to provide a rolling apparatus which overcomes at least one of the disadvantages of the state of the art.

One purpose of the present invention is to provide a rolling unit which allows to replace the rolls, or rings, quickly, in order to increase the efficiency of the production line.

Another purpose of the present invention is to provide a rolling unit which allows to simplify the roll replacement operations to allow even non-specialized operators to perform such interventions.

Another purpose of the present invention is to provide a rolling apparatus comprising a plurality of rolling units.

The Applicant has devised, tested and embodied the present invention to overcome the shortcomings of the state of the art and to obtain these and other purposes and advantages.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is set forth and characterized in the independent claims, while the dependent claims describe other characteristics of the invention or variants to the main inventive idea.

In accordance with the above purposes, a rolling unit according to the present invention comprises a support assembly configured to support the roll at one of its ends and selectively rotatable around an axis of rotation.

According to one aspect of the present invention, the support assembly comprises a support rod provided at a first end with an attachment portion of the roll, a support body provided with a tubular cavity in which the support rod is slidingly inserted along the axis of rotation, and elastic means interposed between the support rod and the support body in order to selectively hold, with the attachment portion, the roll attached to the support rod, by means of an action of elastic retention in a direction parallel to the axis of rotation.

Furthermore, the rolling unit also comprises an actuation assembly configured to selectively move the support rod along the axis of rotation and to allow the removal of the roll, wherein the roll is provided with at least a coupling seating configured to define a closing mechanism with the attachment portion of the support rod.

In an advantageous embodiment, the closing mechanism is of the bayonet type.

It is understood that other embodiments are possible within the scope of the present invention, for example providing that the closing mechanism is of the screw, snap-in, or other type.

Embodiments of the present invention also concern an apparatus for rolling a metal product comprising a plurality of rolling units, each of which is provided with a respective rolling roll. The rolls are reciprocally disposed to define, during use, a passage gap for the metal product.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other characteristics of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of some embodiments, given as a non-restrictive example with reference to the attached drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a front view of a rolling apparatus according to the present invention in a first operating condition;

FIG. 2 is a front view of the rolling apparatus of FIG. 1 in a second operating condition.

FIG. 3 is a front view of the rolling apparatus of FIG. 1 in a third operating condition;

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal section view of a rolling unit according to the present invention and used in the apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a longitudinal section view of the rolling unit of FIG. 4 in an operating condition;

FIG. 6 is a longitudinal section view of part of the rolling unit of FIG. 4 in a further operating condition;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a component of the rolling apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is a further perspective view of the component of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of FIG. 6;

FIG. 10 is a sectioned perspective view of FIG. 9.

To facilitate comprehension, the same reference numbers have been used, where possible, to identify identical common elements in the drawings. It is understood that elements and characteristics of one embodiment can conveniently be incorporated into other embodiments without further clarifications.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SOME EMBODIMENTS

We will now refer in detail to the various embodiments of the present invention, of which one or more examples are shown in the attached drawings. Each example is supplied by way of illustration of the invention and shall not be understood as a limitation thereof. For example, the characteristics shown or described insomuch as they are part of one embodiment can be adopted on, or in association with, other embodiments to produce another embodiment. It is understood that the present invention shall include all such modifications and variants.

Before describing these embodiments, we must also clarify that the present description is not limited in its application to details of the construction and disposition of the components as described in the following description using the attached drawings. The present description can provide other embodiments and can be obtained or executed in various other ways. We must also clarify that the phraseology and terminology used here is for the purposes of description only, and cannot be considered as limitative.

A rolling apparatus 10, according to the present invention, is configured to roll a metal product.

Here and in the following description and claims, by metal product we mean a metal wire, a round piece, a rod, or suchlike.

The rolling apparatus 10 comprises a plurality of rolling units 11 according to the present invention, each one provided with a respective rolling roll 12.

The rolling units 11, in the case shown three rolling units 11, can be distanced equally from each other by an angle a, for example 120° from each other as in FIGS. 1-3. It is not excluded, however, that the apparatus 10 can comprise a different number of rolling units 11, for example two or four or more rolling units 11.

The rolls 12 of the rolling units 11 are reciprocally disposed to define, during use, a passage gap 13 for the metal product (FIG. 1) through which, during use, the metal product is made to pass.

According to possible embodiments, the roll 12 can be provided with at least one coupling seating 14 to allow a connection with parts described below.

According to possible embodiments, the roll 12 can be provided with a rolling ring 15 to roll the metal product and a ring holder 16 on which the rolling ring 15 is installed.

According to possible embodiments, the ring holder 16 can be provided with the at least one coupling seating 14.

According to possible embodiments, the ring 15 can be made of ceramic or composite material, for example iron carbide, and the ring holder 16 can be made, for example, of a metal material, for example steel or alloys thereof.

Each of the rolling units 11 comprises a support assembly 17 configured to support one of the rolls 12 at one of its ends 18. For example, the roll 12 can be supported on the support assembly 17 by inserting a part of the latter into the at least one coupling seating 14 of the roll 12, as will be better described below.

According to the present invention, the support assembly 17 is selectively rotatable around an axis of rotation Z.

According to possible embodiments, the support assembly 17 can be idly rotatable around the axis of rotation Z. According to these embodiments, the support assembly 17 can be rotated by the drawing action of the metal product to be rolled.

Alternatively or additionally, the rolling unit 11 of the apparatus 10 can also comprise a motor assembly 19 configured to rotate the respective support assembly 17 around the axis of rotation Z.

According to one aspect of the present invention, the support assembly 17 comprises a support rod 20 provided, at a first end 21, with an attachment portion 23 of a roll 12.

According to possible embodiments, the attachment portion 23 of the support rod 20 is configured to couple with the at least one coupling seating 14 of the roll 12.

The support rod 20, in some embodiments, can be made in a single piece or can consist of several parts reciprocally associated by any suitable connection means, for example associated telescopically, interlocking, screwed or in still other ways.

In particular, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 9-10, the at least one coupling seating 14 can be configured to define a closing mechanism with the attachment portion 23 of the support rod 20.

In the solution shown, the closing mechanism is of the bayonet type.

It is also possible for the attachment portion 23 to be provided with other types of closing mechanisms, for example a screw, a snap-in attachment, or other. Therefore, the attachment portion 23 can be made both in a single body with the support rod 20, and also with a portion which is separate or separable from it.

According to possible embodiments, see for example FIG. 9, the attachment portion 23 can be provided with at least a tooth 24, in this case three teeth 24, extending radially with respect to the axis of rotation Z.

According to possible embodiments, each tooth 24 can be provided with an abutment wall 25, configured to abut against a corresponding abutment wall 26 of the coupling seating 14 of the roll 12, to attach the roll 12 to the support rod 20.

According to variant embodiments, the abutment walls 26 of the coupling seating 14 can be made on the ring holder 16.

The support assembly 17 also comprises a support body 27 provided with a tubular cavity 28 in which the support rod 20 is slidingly inserted along the axis of rotation Z.

According to possible embodiments, the support rod 20 and the support body 27 are coaxial and are selectively rotatable together with each other.

According to possible embodiments, the support body 27 can be provided with a positioning end 30 through which the first end 21 of the support rod 20 is positioned protruding.

In particular, the positioning end 30 can be provided with an abutment surface 31 on which, during use, the roll 12 is positioned resting. In particular, the roll 12 is positioned on the positioning end 30 so that the abutment surface 31 of the positioning end 30 is in contact, during use, with a corresponding abutment surface 31 a of the roll 12 (see FIGS. 6 and 9-10). A friction force is defined, during use, between the abutment surface 31 of the positioning end 30 and the corresponding abutment surface 31 a of the roll 12, such as to ensure the roll 12 is integral with the support assembly 17 for the rolling operations.

According to possible embodiments, the positioning end 30 can comprise a friction element 32 defining at least part of the abutment surface 31 on which the roll 12 is positioned during use.

According to possible embodiments, the friction element 32 can be connected to the support body 27 by connection elements 32 a, for example of the threaded type.

According to possible embodiments, the support body 27 can comprise centering means 33—see FIGS. 6 and 9-10—protruding at least partially in a direction parallel to the axis of rotation Z to define reference points with which an operator can check the effective centering of the roll 12 with respect to the support assembly 17.

The centering means 33 can be inserted, during use, in a corresponding centering seating 34 made in the roll 12—see FIG. 8.

According to variant embodiments, the centering seatings 34 can be made in the ring holder 16.

According to the present invention, the rolling unit 11 comprises an actuation assembly 35 configured to selectively move the support rod 20 along the axis of rotation Z and to allow the removal of the roll 12.

According to possible embodiments, see for example FIGS. 4-6, the support assembly 17 can comprise guide means 29 to guide the movement along the axis of rotation Z of the support rod 20 with respect to the support body 27.

According to possible variant embodiments, the support rod 20 is provided with a second end 22, opposite the first end 21 and protruding from the support body 27.

According to these variant embodiments, the actuation assembly 35 is provided with an actuation element 36 acting on the second end 22 of the support rod 20 when the selective removal of the roll 12 is required.

According to possible embodiments, the actuation element 36 is aligned with the axis of rotation Z and can be selectively positioned in a first position, in which the actuation element 36 is not in contact with the support rod 20 (see FIG. 4), and in a second position, in which the actuation element 36 is in contact with the second end 22 of the support rod 20 in order to move the latter along the axis of rotation Z toward the end 18 (see FIG. 5). In particular, it should be noted that as the actuation element 36 of the actuation assembly 35, during use, is not in contact with the support rod 20, the actuation assembly 35 may not be moved in rotation around the axis of rotation Z.

The movement along the axis of rotation Z allows a thrust wall 37 of the support rod 20, positioned in correspondence with the first end 21, to axially thrust the roll 12 so as to form an interspace 42 between the roll 12 and the contact body 27 (see FIG. 5).

According to possible embodiments, the rolling unit 11 comprises a support structure 38 on which the actuation assembly 35 is positioned fixed.

The support structure 38 can be provided with support elements 39 configured to support and allow the rotation of the support assembly 17 around the axis of rotation Z.

The support elements 39 are configured to constrain the axial position of the support body 27 with respect to the axis of rotation Z.

In particular, the support elements 39 can comprise bearings, for example ball bearings.

According to possible embodiments, the support body 27 can be connected to the motor assembly 19 of the rolling unit 11, if present, as shown by way of example only in FIGS. 4 and 5.

According to possible embodiments, the support assembly 17 is provided with a toothed wheel 40 integral with the support assembly 17 and mechanically connected to the motor assembly 19 in order to selectively transmit a rotation.

The support assembly 17 also comprises elastic means 41 interposed between the support rod 20 and the support body 27 in order to selectively retain, with the attachment portion 23, the roll 12 attached to the support rod 20 by means of an action of elastic retention in a direction parallel to the axis of rotation Z.

During normal use, in fact, the elastic means 41 are configured to retain and attach the roll 12 resting on the abutment surface 31. The elastic means 41 generate a traction force, during use, parallel to the axis of rotation Z and directed in an opposite direction to the end 18.

The traction force exerted by the elastic means 41 allows to tighten the roll 12 pack-wise onto the support assembly 17, in particular it allows to tighten the surface 31 a of the roll 12 onto the contact surface 31 of the positioning end 30. The friction force generated between the two surfaces 31 and 31a allows to transmit, during use, the rotation of the support assembly 17 around the axis of rotation Z to the roll 12.

During the operation of replacing the roll 12, the thrusting action of the actuation assembly 35 allows to overcome the action of elastic retention exerted by the elastic means 41 and release the roll 12 from the attachment portion 23 of the support rod 20.

During normal use, the coupling between the attachment portion 23 of the support rod 20 and the roll 12 prevents the support rod 20 from being moved along the axis of rotation Z in the opposite direction to the first end 18 due to the effect of the traction force exerted by the elastic means 41.

According to possible embodiments, the elastic means 41 are located inside the tubular cavity 28 of the support body 27.

According to possible embodiments, the elastic means 41 can be, for example, cup springs.

The method to replace the rolls 12 of the rolling units 11 of an apparatus 10 according to the present invention is described below.

In an initial position, shown schematically in FIG. 1, the plurality of rolling units 11 of the apparatus 10 define a passage gap 13 through which, during use, the metal product is made to pass to perform a rolling operation on the metal product.

In this step, the support assembly 17 of each rolling unit 11 can be rotated around its own axis of rotation Z by the drawing effect of the metal product to be rolled.

Alternatively or additionally, the support assembly 17 of the rolling unit 11 can be rotated around its own axis of rotation Z by the motor assembly 19, if present (FIGS. 1 and 4).

To replace the roll 12 of a rolling unit 11, the rotation of the support assembly 17 is stopped. The rolling units 11 can be moved transversely with respect to the axis of rotation Z so as to increase the distance between the respective rolls 12 (FIG. 2).

Subsequently, the rolling units 11 can be further moved along the axis of rotation Z to generate an operating space inside which an operator can perform the operation of replacing the roll.

The method to replace the roll 12 of a single rolling unit 11 will be described below. This replacement operation is repeated for each rolling unit 11 of the apparatus 10.

Once the operating space has been generated, the actuation assembly 35 is activated to selectively move the support rod 20 along the axis of rotation Z with respect to the support body 27. In particular, it should be noted that the support body 27 remains axially fixed because it is constrained to the support structure 38 by the support elements 39. The support elements 39 allow, however, the possible rotation of the support body 27 around the axis of rotation Z.

The actuation of the actuation assembly 35 thrusts the support rod 20, in particular its thrust wall 37, along the axis of rotation Z against the roll 12. By doing so, an interspace 42 is formed between the roll 12 and the positioning end 30 of the support body 27, and the roll 12, in particular its abutment surface 31a, is separated from the abutment surface 31 (FIG. 5).

This separation allows the operator to selectively rotate the roll 12 around the axis of rotation Z for an angular sector, for example 120°, with respect to the support rod 20 which remains fixed. The rotation allows to release the roll 12 from the attachment portion 23 of the support rod 20. The operator can therefore remove the roll 12 from the apparatus 10 moving it axially (FIGS. 6 and 9-10).

At this point, the operator can replace the roll 12 with a new roll, inserting the latter axially onto the first end 21 of the support rod 20. The new roll is then rotated around the axis of rotation Z by an angular sector so as to obtain the consequent clamping, advantageously of the bayonet type, of the attachment portion 23 of the support rod 20 in the roll 12, coupling the latter to the support rod 20.

Once the new roll has been installed, the actuation assembly 35 is deactivated and the traction force along the axis of rotation Z in the opposite direction to the first end 18, exerted by the elastic means 41, disposes the new roll, in particular its abutment surface 31 a, resting on the abutment surface 31 of the positioning end 30 (FIG. 4). A friction force is again defined between the abutment surface 31 and the new roll, such as to ensure the new roll is integral with the support assembly 17 for the rolling operations.

Once all the rolls 12 of the apparatus 10 have been replaced, the rolling units 11 can be returned to their original position (FIG. 1) to define the passage gap 13.

It is clear that modifications and/or additions of parts may be made to the rolling apparatus 10 and to the rolling unit 11 as described heretofore, without departing from the field and scope of the present invention.

It is also clear that, although the present invention has been described with reference to some specific examples, a person of skill in the art shall certainly be able to achieve many other equivalent forms of rolling apparatus and rolling unit, having the characteristics as set forth in the claims and hence all coming within the field of protection defined thereby.

In the following claims, the sole purpose of the references in brackets is to facilitate reading: they must not be considered as restrictive factors with regard to the field of protection claimed in the specific claims. 

1. Rolling unit provided with a respective rolling roll, and comprising a support assembly configured to support said roll at one of its ends and selectively rotatable around an axis of rotation, characterized in that said support assembly comprises: a support rod provided at a first end with an attachment portion of said roll, a support body provided with a tubular cavity in which said support rod is slidingly inserted along said axis of rotation, and elastic means interposed between said support rod and said support body in order to selectively hold, with said attachment portion, said roll attached to said support rod, by means of an action of elastic retention in a direction parallel to said axis of rotation, and in that said rolling unit comprises an actuation assembly configured to selectively move said support rod along said axis of rotation and to allow the removal of said roll, wherein said roll is provided with at least one coupling seating configured to define a closing mechanism with said attachment portion of said support rod.
 2. Unit as in claim 1, characterized in that said closing mechanism is of the bayonet type.
 3. Unit as in claim 1, characterized in that said support rod is provided with a second end opposite the first end, and in that said actuation assembly is provided with an actuation element acting on said second end when the selective removal of said roll is required.
 4. Unit as in claim 3, characterized in that said actuation element is aligned with said axis of rotation and can be selectively positioned in a first position in which said actuation element is not in contact with said support rod, and in a second position in which said actuation element is in contact with said second end of said support rod in order to move the latter along said axis of rotation.
 5. Unit as in claim 1, characterized in that said support body is provided with a positioning end through which said support rod is positioned protruding, and in that said positioning end is provided with an abutment surface on which, during use, said roll is positioned resting, said elastic means normally retaining and attaching said roll resting on said abutment surface.
 6. Unit as in claim 5, characterized in that said positioning end comprises a friction element defining at least part of said abutment surface on which said roll is positioned.
 7. Unit as in claim 1, characterized in that said roll is provided with a rolling ring to roll the metal product and with a ring holder on which said rolling ring is installed, said ring holder being provided with said at least one coupling seating.
 8. Unit as in claim 1, characterized in that said elastic means are located inside said tubular cavity of said support body.
 9. Unit as in claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a motor assembly (19) connected to said support body and configured to make said support assembly rotate around said axis of rotation.
 10. Unit as in claim 1, characterized in that said support rod and said support body are coaxial and are selectively rotatable together with each other.
 11. Unit as in claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a support structure on which said actuation assembly is positioned fixed, and in that said support structure is provided with support elements configured to allow the rotation of said support assembly around said axis of rotation.
 12. Apparatus for rolling a metal product comprising a plurality of rolling units as in claim 1, in which the rolls of each of said rolling units are reciprocally disposed to define, during use, a passage gap for said metal product. 